Detachable tail gate lift for a truck



April 27, 1965 F. J. sHAw 3,180,503

DETACHABLE TAIL GATE LIFT FOR A TRUCK April 27, 1965 F. J. sHAw 3,180,503

DETACHABLE TAIL GATE LIFT FOR A TRUCK Filed May 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR. @4A/,e d S/mw Bbmwm United States Patent 3,189,5@3 DETACHABLE TAH., GATE LHT FR A TRUCK Frank J. Shaw, M645 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Ariz. Filed May 2t), 1963, Ser. No. 231,707 3 Claims. (Cl. 21a-75) This invention pertains to devices for raising and lowering loads relative to a truck bed and is particularly directed to a detachable tail gate lift for a truck.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus which may be readily used for lifting and lowering loads to be placed on or taken oli of trucks.

A further object is to provide a unit as aforementioned which may be used as a separate detachable unit for lifting loads and for pushing material in a horizontal or vertical direction.

And it is also an object to provide a detachable tail gate lift apparatus having ground engaging casters 4or wheels which may be used for lifting loads or lowering loads and trans;F rring them from one location to another.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FlG. 1 is a right hand side elevation of a detachable tail gate lift for a truck incorporating the features of this invention.

PEG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, indicated by the line 2-2 in FiG. l.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section part-ly broken away on the line 5-5 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section on the line eof FIG. 3.

As an example or one embodiment of this invention there is shown a detachable tail gate lift comprising a pair of laterally spaced support members itl consisting of the horizontal top plates il and the integral downwardly ex- L tending sides l2. To the forward ends 13 is rigidly fixed the pivot brackets 14 having the hook portions l5 which are adapted to hook over and pivotally swing on the laterally disposed rod 16 suitably iixed to the truck bed 17. The brackets each have a depending thrust plate i8 having a forwardly facing abutment surface 19 adapted to positively limit downward swinging, countercloclrwise in FIGS. l and 3, of the support member l@ :by engaging a vertical surface 29 on the bumper 2i or other rigid surface of the truck bed or frame.

Fixed to the top surface 22. of the top plates 1i are the elongated guide lsleeves 23 in which are vertically slidable guide and support tubes 24. Upstanding nuts 25 are also rigidly iixed to the top surface 22 of the support members it) in which operate the vertically disposed elevating screws 25. The lower portions of the guide and support tubes 24 etend slidably through guide sleeves 27 iixed to the load carrying deck plate 2S of the load carrying platform 29 which includes downwardly extending integral sides 3@ and 31 and ends 32 and 33 to form a rigid structure for the load carrying platform 29. Stop collars 34 are appropriately fixed by suitable set screws 35 on the llower ends of the guide and support tubes 2d to limit downward relative travel of the load carrying platform on the tubes 24. Mounted on the lower ends ice of the guide and support tubes are casters 36 adapted to engage and roll on the ground surface 37. The lower ends of the elevating screws are journaled against axial movement Iin suitable thrust bearings 33 carried in the load carrying platform 29. 0n the lower end of each screw 26 below the thrust bearings 38 are ixed the identical sprockets 39 over which operates the endless chain d@ so that both screws 26 rotate in synohronism when a suitable wrench, such as the usual tire tool wheel nut wrench is applied to the wrench ends di formed on each end of the screws 26. The lower edge 42 of the load carrying platform 29 rests on ground 37 and the lower ends d3 of the screws Z5 at this time are adapted to clear the ground surface when the load carrying platform 2% is down against the ground and stop collars 34 of the casters 35.

The upper ends of the guide and support tubes 24 are rigidly connected to the outer ends of the laterally spaced hollow rectangular yolres d4 by suitable bolts d5. The upper ends of the elevating screws 26 are suitably liournaled for both rotary and axial movement in bushings dd carried in the yolres 44. On each of the guide sleeves 23 is an upstanding pawl li pivotally mounted on pins dil so as to swing in vertical planes, counterclockwise in FlGS. 3 and 4, under the influence of compression springs d'9 interacting between the guide sleeves 23 and the pawls A. latch plate Sd is slidably mounted longitudinally within each yoke ddand has slots Si aligned with larger clearance slots 52 formed in the bottom of the yolres ad up through which may project the upper ends S3 of the pawls d? as the yokes 44 and support members it? move together with the upper ends 53 to engage the bottom Sdof the yokes ed. At this time the latch surface 55 of the pawls d? engage over the top surface 56 of the latch plate dit to secure the support members and yokes dd together. A latch release handle 57 is pivotally mounted on a pin d3 on the yokes d4 and has a lower portion 59 with an actuating pin d@ engaging in a slot 61 formed in the latch plate, FIG. 6, whereby swinging of the handle S7 from the broken line position 57a of latching to the full line position of release, FIG. 3, releases the pawls 47 from the latch plate S6. A suitable elongated clearance slot d2 is provided in the latch plate Si? to clear the elevating screws 26.

With the unit mounted on the truck on the rod 16, it may be swung to the broken line horizontal position 6?, shown in FIG. l, whereupon the above described guide tubes, elevating screws and yokes are positioned along the sides of the truck bed 17 so as not to interfere with the load on the truck. Under these conditions the load carrying platform functions as a tail gate for the rear of the truclr` bed.

When the unit is swung to the full line position shown in FlG. 1 with the load carrying platform fully eleva-ted to a ler/el substantially even with the top 17a of the truck bed i7, the load on the truck bed surface llla may be skilled out onto the top surface of the load carrying decir plate 2S. if desired, a hinged plate 64 mounted on hinges 65 along the top edge of the front side 3l of the load carrying platform may swing in the direction of the arrow 66, PEG. 3, to the position 67 to cover the gap between the rear 63 of the truck bed and the front side di o' the load carrying platform to provide a continuous door from the truck bed onto the platform 2%.

With the load shifted from the truck` bed 17 onto the 3 load carrying platform'ZS, an operating wrench is suitably applied to the top of one of the wrench ends t1 of the elevating screws 2id to rotate them to lower the platform Z and guide and support tubes to the position shown in FIG. 3. With the lower edges 42 against the floor surface 37 and the platform29 resting on the stop collarsV 34, continued operation of the screws 26 in this direction thereafter causes the support member 1t) to rise, lifting the pivot brackets 14 and their hook portions 1S from the rod 16 to thereby free the unit from any connection with the truck.

Continued rotation of screws 26 raises support le to engage pawls 47 onto latch plate Sil. Then by reversing rotation of screws 26 transfers load through pawls 47 on-to latch plates 5* and yokes 44 and guide and support tubes 24 causing casters 36 to extrude and contact ground 37,further rotation o-f screws 26 will cause load-carrying platform 29 to raise to a suitable position to clear ground for pushing the unit together with the load on the casters 35 to any desired unloading area.

In certain instances it is desirable, with the'load ou the unit resting on its casters 36 on the floor surface 37, to elevate the platform 29 and load to a desired height to facilitate removing the load from the unit. To do this it is merely necesary to continue to operate the screws 26 to raise platform v29, FIG. 2, to the desired height above the floor to facilitate taking the load off of the platform 29.

The reverse of the above described operations pertains when it is desired to pick up a load from an elevated posiunit on the casters to the truck, then lowering the load to ground level position, FIG. 3, release latch pawls 4K7 by moving levers S7 to full line position, FIG. 3, reversel the rotation of screws 26 to lower the suppor-t members 10 to bring the hook portions l5 of the brackets 14 down on the rod 16 and finally elevating the platform Z9 to truck be-d height for skidding the load on the truck bed.

ln certain situations the unit may be positively held in horizontal position, FIG. 1, by latches 76%' on the support members 1) which eng-age suitable mating eyes 71 on the truck side 72 so that the platfornr29 may be actuated horizontally of the truck bed y17 by applying an actu-ating wrench to the bottom ends 43 of the Screws so that the tail gate backup for the load may be used to push the load forwardly of the truck bed and to provide backup for loads which might overhang lthe rear edge of the truck bed 17. Suitable drop chains 69 may be connected to v the support members d@ and the truck side 72.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also -to be understood that the apparatus is capable of'mechanical alteration without departing from the spiri-t of the invention andV that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims `are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is: v

l. A detachable tail gate lift for a truck having a truck bed including a top and a rear end, a transverse pivot rod xed on the truck bed, and a rear bumper lixed to the truck bed, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of laterally spaced support members,

(b) pivot brackets formed `on the front ends of said support members having,

(c) hook portions `adapted to engage over said transverse pivot rod,

(d) and thrust plates ad-apted to engage a portion of said rear bumper to arrest downward swinging move- -ment of said support members,

(e) a supporting chain -to assist in holding said support members against a downward swinging movement,

(f) aV load carrying platform,

(g) guide and support means slidably interconnected with said support members and said load carrying platform,

(h) means for transportably supporting said guide and support means on a floor surface,

(i) elevating mechanism interconnected between said support members and said load carrying platform operable to effect relative vertical movement of said Vload carrying platform and said support members,

(j) and relea'sable latch means between said supportV members and said elevating mechanism to interlock the same so that operation of said elevating mechanism causes relative vertical movement of said load carrying platform and said guide and support means when said guide and support means is supported on the floor surface.

2. A detachable tail gate lift for a truck having a truck bed including a top and a rear end, a transverse pivot rod fixed on the truck bed, and a rear bumper fixed to the truck bed, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of laterally spaced support members,

(b) pivot brackets formed on the front ends of said support membersV having,V Y

(c) hoo-k portions adapted to engagei'over `said transverse pivot rod, Y

(d) and thrust plates adapted to engage a portion of said rear bumper to arrest downward swinging movement of said support members,

(e) .arload carrying platform,

(f) guide and support fmeansslidably interconnected with said support members and said load carrying platform, Y

(g) means for transportably supporting said guide and support means on a Hoor surface,

(lz) elevating mechanism interconnected between said support members and said load carrying platform operable to effect relative vertical movement of said load carrying platform and said support members,

(i) releasable latch means between said support members and said elevating mechanism to interlock the same so that operation of said elevating mechanismv causes relative vertical movement of said load carrying platform and said guide and support means when said guide and support means is supported on the oor surface,

(j) and stop means on said guide and support means to positively limit .downward relative travel'of said load carrying platform and said guide and support means at the lower end thereof.

3. A detachable tail gate lift fora truck having a truck bed including a top and a rear end, a transverse pivot rod xed 'on the 4truck bed, and a rear bumper xed to the truck bed, comprising in combination: Y

V(a) a pair of laterally spaced support members,

V(In) pivot brackets formed on the front ends'of ,saidV against axial movement in said load carrying platform, t

(h) nuts fixed to said support members operating on said elevating screws,

(g) elevating screws having their lower ends journaled (i) yokes xed to he top ends of said guide and sup- References Cited by @he Examiner .P011 tubes UNHED STATES PATENTS (j) means on sind yokes and support members for releasably latchng said yokes and support members 112801090 9/18 SChIOkY- relative movement of said load carrying platform on 2,828,030 3/53 Harrington et a1. 214-130 said guide and support tubes, 2,949,197 8/60 Lomen et al.

(k) and ground surface contacting casters on the lower ends of said guide and support tubes. HUGO 0 SCHULZ, Primary Examiner- 

1. A DETACHABLE TAIL GATE LIFT A TRUCK HAVING A TRUCK BED INCLUDING A TOP AND REAR END, A TRANSVERSE PIVOT ROD FIXED ON THE TRUCK BED, AND A REAR BUMPER FIXED TO THE TRUCK BED, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS, (B) PIVOT BRACKETS FORMED ON THE FRONT ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING, (C) HOOK PORTIONS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE OVER SAID TRANSVERSE PIVOT ROD, (D) AND THRUST PLATES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A PORTION OF SAID REAR BUMPER TO ARREST DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, (E) A SUPPORTING CHAIN TO ASSIST IN HOLDING SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AGAINST A DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT, (F) A LOAD CARRYING PLATFORM, (G) GUIDE AND SUPPORT MEANS SLIDABLY INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND SAID LOAD CARRYING PLATFORM, (H) MEANS FOR TRANSPORTABLY SUPPORTING SAID GUIDE AND SUPPORT MEANS ON A FLOOR SURFACE, (I) ELEVATING MECHANISM INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND SAID LOAD CARRYING PLATFROM OPERABLE TO EFFECT RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LOAD CARRYING PLATFROM AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, (J) AND RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBES AND SAID ELEVATING MECHANISM TO INTERLOCK THE SAME SO THAT OPERATION OF SAID ELEVATING MECHANISM CAUSES RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LAOD CARRYING PLATFORM AND SAID GUIDE AND SUPPORT MEANS WHEN SAID GUIDE AND SUPPORT MEANS IS SUPPORTED ON THE FLOOR SURFACE. 